A ‘Server’ (or Enterprise Server, ES) means a computing product that provides services and manages networked resources for client devices, such as desktop computers, notebook computers, desktop thin clients, internet protocol telephones, smartphones, tablets, tele-communication, automated systems or other servers, primarily accessed via network connections, and not through direct user input devices, such as a keyboard or mouse.
Since 2019, servers and online data storage products are regulated by ecodesign Regulation 2019/424 except for small-scale servers that are regulated by Regulation 617/2013.
In estimating the impacts of the regulations, distinctions are made between servers depending on their configuration (tower, rack, blade), number of sockets (1, 2, 4), resilience (yes/no, extensive reliability, availability, serviceability, scalability), and access type (traditional or cloud).
Rack servers are stand-alone devices, comprising all necessary components to operate. The rack servers can be stacked in a standardised U-rack (hence their name), for ease of management and interconnection for combined computing power.
Please note that Regulation (EU) 2019/424 is under review.
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2023
Scope
The following table shows some examples of products in scope and out of scope
| In Scope | Out of Scope |
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Check the complete list in the Regulation.
Ecodesign Requirements
Enterprise servers and data storage products, which cover so-called business-to-business computers typically found in data centres and server rooms of companies, sold in the EU are subject to rules laid out in the Regulation on ecodesign requirements for servers and data storage products EU 2019/424.
The objective of the regulation is to limit the environmental impact of these products with a set of rules on energy efficiency, such as minimum efficiency of the power supply units and minimum server efficiency in active state, maximum consumption in idle state and information on the product operating temperature.
The regulation also takes into account circular economy aspects such as extraction of key-components and of critical raw materials, availability of a functionality for secure data deletion and provision of the latest available version of firmware.
Please note that Regulation (EU) 2019/424 is under review.
Highlights
Switching to products that comply with the ecodesign rules will lead to electricity savings of up to 9TWh/year, approximately the yearly electricity consumption of Estonia in 2014. It will also lead to greenhouse gas emission reductions of up to 3 Mton CO2eq per year.
Facts & Figures
This graphic shows the estimated sales, stock, energy consumption (primary, electric or fuel), greenhouse gas emissions, consumer expenses and business revenues for years 2010 and 2030. The estimated values inside the graph bars are those from the EIA ECO-scenario, they include the effects of ecodesign and energy labelling measures.
The difference with the business as usual (BAU) scenario without these estimated measures is shown next to the graph bar. These figures indicate the estimated savings obtained due to the measures.
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Product: Servers and data storage products Measures: Regulation (EU) 2019/424 |
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SALES (x1000 units)  |
STOCK (x1000 units)  |
Electricity (TWh/a)  |
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GHG-EMISSION  |
CONSUMER EXPENSES  |
REVENUES  |
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2023
Expected Savings
In 2020, Servers and Data Storage products consumed 48 TWh/a of electricity. Without measures, this is projected to increase to 70 TWh/a in 2030 (+45%). Due to the proposed measures this can be reduced to 67 TWh/a, a saving of 4%.
This electricity saving corresponds to a reduction of 0.3 MtCO2eq/a of greenhouse gas emissions in 2030.
EU27 Electricity for Servers and Data Storage Products (Excl. Cooling of Data Centre Spaces)
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2023
Policy
Ongoing legislative work
Please check the ongoing initiatives on the Have your say portal.
Regulation (EU) 2019/424 of 15 March 2019 laying down ecodesign requirements for servers and data storage products pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) 617/2013 (Text with EEA relevance).
Key points
- The regulation establishes ecodesign requirements for placing servers and online data storage products on the market and putting them into service.
- The regulation does not apply to:
- servers intended for embedded applications;
- servers classified as small-scale servers under Regulation (EU) 617/2013;
- servers with more than four processor sockets;
- server appliances;
- large servers;
- fully fault-tolerant servers;
- network servers;
- small data storage products;
- large data storage products.
- The regulation amends Regulation (EU) 617/2013 to exclude computer servers from its scope.
- The ecodesign requirements are set out in Annex II.
- The regulation specifies which conformity assessment procedures apply.
- National authorities must apply the verification procedures laid down in Annex IV when carrying out market surveillance checks.
- Annex V sets out indicative benchmarks for the best-performing servers and data storage products available on the market.
- The European Commission must review this regulation in the light of technological progress and present its results, including, if appropriate, a draft revision proposal, by March 2022.
From when does the regulation apply?
It has applied since 7 April 2019. The regulation’s amendments to Regulation (EU) 617/2013 have applied since 1 March 2020.
Background
Directive 2009/125/EC establishes a framework to set ecodesign requirements for energy-related products. The Commission must set these requirements for products which are widely sold and traded in the EU and have a significant environmental impact.
For more information see:
- Servers and data storage products — Ecodesign requirements (European Commission)
- The new ecodesign measures explained (European Commission)
- About the energy label and ecodesign — Energy savings (European Commission).
Disclaimer: please pay attention to possible updates/changes as indicated in the Official Journal (green dot)